Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is usually recognised as a disease that is more prevalent among elderly men, especially above the age of 55 to 60. The National Institute of Health estimates that approximately 45,000 men as opposed to 17,000 women are diagnosed with the disease every year. However, advanced tumours are more common among women and indicate at a comparatively lower survival rate at all stages of the disease, according to a report by the National Cancer Institute. Additionally, bladder cancer among women is on the rise. The disease is usually treatable when diagnosed at an early stage and the line of treatment is undertaken promptly. Awareness about the symptoms of the disease is the key to its detection at an early stage. When diagnosed at an advanced stage and requires a surgery, Dr Amish V Dalal, a Surgical Oncologist with over 30 years of experience, is accomplished at removal of cancerous tumours in the bladder.

The following may be the symptoms of bladder cancer:

Traces of blood in urine – The first symptom of the disease may be the presence of blood in urine, referred to as ‘Haematuria’ in medical terminology. At certain instances, the first symptoms of bladder cancer can also be similar to bladder infection, which may occur simultaneously with bladder cancer. The symptoms may include a change of urine colour to pale yellow-red or, very rarely, dark red. It may also have traces of blood, orange or dark brown in colour. However, while the blood traces are sometimes visible to the naked eye, at other times it may be diagnosed only through medical tests. Haematuria may also be the symptom of an infection, existence of bladder and kidney stones, and benign kidney disease. Visiting your physician for evaluation is usually the first step towards detecting the cause of the symptoms. If you are prescribed antibiotics and the symptoms persist thereafter, you need to revisit the physician immediately for further evaluation as it may indicate at the first symptoms of bladder cancer. During the course of diagnosis, if the medical tests indicate at the presence of a malignant tumour, a surgery along with therapies like radio therapy and chaemotherapy may be the cure for the disease. Amish Dalal is renowned as a surgeon for the removal of cancerous bladder tumours.

The primary reason why the diagnosis of bladder cancer among women is often delayed as compared to men is because traces of blood in urine is often associated with menstruation or menopause, preventing them from reporting the symptom to a gynaecologist. The symptom can also be misdiagnosed by women as post-menopausal bleeding, urinary tract infection or cystitis.

Among men, genitourinary malignancy often reaches the advanced stages before it is detected. Prostate cancer usually poses as an impediment for early detection of bladder cancer. The risk of testicular cancer, which affects adolescent and young adult males, reduces with age. After 55 or 60 years of age, when men outgrow the risk of testicular cancer, the type of cancer that they usually get diagnosed with is prostate cancer, which has a higher probability of occurrence than bladder cancer. As a result, cancer in the bladder often gets overlooked as a prospective diagnosis for these symptoms. Once tests detect the presence of a malignant tumour in the bladder, you may have to approach a surgical oncologist for the future line of treatment. Dr. Amish Vasant Dalal holds expertise in the surgical treatment of malignant neoplasms.

Urination problems – Frequent urination, pain during urination, inability to urinate or compulsion to urinate urgently even when the bladder is not full may be the symptoms of cancer in the bladder. However, these are the common signs of an infection or benign tumour, amongst other less serious conditions. Approaching a physician for diagnosing the reason of the symptoms, based on the tests that he may have prescribed is usually the next course of action usually followed. The existence of a tumour in the bladder as indicated through tests may require a surgery. Doctor Amish Dalal is proficient in removal of tumours from the bladder.

Lower back painon one side – This may be an advanced symptom for larger bladder cancers. Cancer in the bladder is segregated into different types, stages and grades.

Other advanced symptoms – These may include swelling in the feet, feeling weak and tired very often, bone pain or loss of appetite and weight loss.

Patients diagnosed with malignant tumours can book an appointment with Amish Dalal at Jaslok Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital, Bhatia General Hospital, Saifee Hospital or Parsee General Hospital.